Behind the Layers: How I Build a Mixed Media Painting

People often ask how a painting begins — is it planned? Sketched out? Or do I just start and see where it goes? The answer is somewhere in between.

For me, each painting starts with a fragment — a colour, a word, a remembered moment — and from there, I begin layering. Here's a closer look at how my process unfolds.

Step 1: The Spark

The initial inspiration might be subtle: the smell of a dusty room, a distant train, or a particular light falling through a window. I don’t always sketch in the traditional sense, but I often write notes, collect paper scraps, or pull together a small palette that matches the mood I’m feeling.

Step 2: Laying the Ground

I usually begin with a painted ground — often a wash of colour or a textured base using gesso, acrylic, or collage elements. This layer is rarely seen in the final piece, but it’s crucial. It creates depth and sets the emotional tone.

Step 3: Intuition & Layering

From here, it becomes a conversation with the canvas. I might:

• Add collage fragments (vintage paper, tissue, or hand-painted scraps)

• Draw with charcoal or pencil directly onto the surface

• Paint over sections, glaze, sand back, and rework

There’s a lot of back-and-forth. I add, subtract, and sometimes completely obscure areas — chasing that delicate balance between chaos and calm.

Step 4: The Struggle Stage

Every painting hits a point where I doubt it entirely. This stage can last hours or weeks. But I’ve learned to sit with it. Eventually, small decisions begin to resolve things — a shift in composition, a softened edge, a bold mark. Slowly, it starts to feel like it’s mine.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

The final stages are all about restraint. I step back often. I leave the studio and return with fresh eyes. Finishing is about knowing when to stop — when the painting holds its own and no longer needs me.

Why the Layers Matter

I see these layers as a metaphor for memory and emotion. Life isn’t neat — it’s built on fragments, revisions, and quiet persistence. My hope is that each piece captures a small echo of that.